As the sad news filters through
of the loss of the Harbin Hong-5 destined for Cottesmore and RIAT,
here's a look at what might have been. Bob Archer sends
us this photo-report from deepest Romania

Lancer 810 of
the 86th Group based at Fetesti-Borcea in May 2001. The unit has sent a pair of aircraft
to RIAT at Cottesmore. The camo Lancers are for ground attack, while the grey examples are
dedicated to air defence.

Harbin H-5C Hong 308 at
Fetesti-Borcea in May 2001. The two forward hatches are open to enable the navigator and
pilot to gain access. The Hong due at RIAT was number 310, but it unfortunately crashed on
a test flight and was written-off, the crew escaping unhurt.

Lancer C 6707
taxing at Fetesti-Borcea. The grey aircraft are interceptors, with 75 Lancer A
models, 25 Lancer Cs, and 10 Lancer B two-seaters due for conversion from various models
of MiG-21.

MiG-23MF 205 of the 93rd Group
stationed at Timisoara-Giarmata. Despite reports of the MiG-23 having been withdrawn from
Romanian service, the Group still flies 3-4 examples, and will continue to do so until
their airframe hours are expired (around 2003).

Lancer A 6002
at Timisoara-Giarmata.

Lancer A 9703 with a lighter
shade of brown, on the last chance at Timisoara-Giarmata.

Another view
of Hong 308.

Line up of MiG-29s of the 57th
Group at Mikhail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Constanta. The base will host an air show in
August, which promises to be extremely good.

MiG-29 54
taxing at Mikhail Kogalniceanu.

The remains of Hong 307 which
crashed at Fetesti-Borcea in August 2000. Despite a serious fire which destroyed much of
the aircraft, the crew escaped with minor injury, including the rear gunner, whose
position was not longer there when the fire was finally extinguished.